Any SWA or Airtran pilots see recent SLI at Mesaba/Colgan/Pinnacle?

[Ty Webb]

I agree, Lear. The $200M in savings will be the driving force in the end. Failure to combine the operations and get the entire $400M in savings would trigger a rash of lawsuits from shareholders.

The other issue, which you and I have both mentioned, but has not been addressed by the "cultured" pilots, is what happens with the other employee groups if the pilots can't learn to share their toys.

Pilots don't operate in a vacuum. We should not forget that what we do (and how we do it) affects the other employee groups, and that the example we set will be observed and considered by other employees.

 

[Ty Webb]

deleted.

 

[elcid]

Pilots don't operate in a vacuum. We should not forget that what we do (and how we do it) affects the other employee groups, and that the example we set will be observed and considered by other employees.

Right, like the SWA flight attendants who are just as worried about being thrown under the bus on this deal as the pilots. I have seen a huge change in their attitudes since this was first announced. They've gone from "We're going to Cancun!!!" to "If this SLI goes bad, we're going to burn the place down." Based on the conversations I've had on the van/at the bar with them, they are hoping for an arbitrated award that heavily favors AAI followed by the announcement that there will be no merging of the lists. Most I've talked to think it will be a culture nightmare no matter how it is merged, which would be the end of the airline. Pilots and FA's make up the vast majority of the employees at the airline. The only people who really want this at SWA are in management, if they even truly want it. It's gonna be a long rest of the year. We all have a lot riding on this. I can understand the angst on all sides. Good luck everyone.

 

[scoreboardII]

Southwest pilots consider themselves superior. They consider AAI pilots inferior. .

No, not true, SWA considers Airtran inferior, not the pilots, you guys are held in high esteem, don't mix the two even though you work there.

Lets be real on the 717/500 discussion, a 717 is an RJ with RJ range. Our 500 can go coast to coast with gas for a CATIII. AT corporate documents state the 717 is a short haul high frequency regional jet. There is a difference, but it's in the companies, not the pilots.

What are SWA pilots afraid of? Not "not getting something", they are afraid of losing what they have. Period. Let me be clear, if you threaten that, what we have, you will be gone.

 

[shagadelic]

Right, like the SWA flight attendants who are just as worried about being thrown under the bus on this deal as the pilots. I have seen a huge change in their attitudes since this was first announced. They've gone from "We're going to Cancun!!!" to "If this SLI goes bad, we're going to burn the place down." Based on the conversations I've had on the van/at the bar with them, they are hoping for an arbitrated award that heavily favors AAI followed by the announcement that there will be no merging of the lists. Most I've talked to think it will be a culture nightmare no matter how it is merged, which would be the end of the airline. Pilots and FA's make up the vast majority of the employees at the airline. The only people who really want this at SWA are in management, if they even truly want it. It's gonna be a long rest of the year. We all have a lot riding on this. I can understand the angst on all sides. Good luck everyone.

I have flown with some new FO's hoping for an award that favors AAI as well. They know they are at the bottom....unless we don't integrate.

 

[bladeusa]

It really is very simple yet some still can't seem to grasp the reality of the situation. If a negotiated settlement can't be reached, there will be no integration. Period.

Have you guys started making your USWAPA lanyards yet ??

Neutral, fair,impartial (ohh and i wish binding but thats a whole different animal & or east pilot ) Sure does seem to scare your side.

I hope we can come to negotiated agreement. But I don't fear arbitration. My only fear is that you will become a cancer like the others who agree to binding arbitration then pull out your manpon, take your ball and go home when it doesn't go your way. If you think you can bully and intimidate this pilot group you obviously don't understand what we go thru on a day to day basis.

ohh and happy anniversary !

 

[GoodTimes]

Ty,

Gotta love the Sneetches. Well played.

I much prefer "Oh! The Places You'll Go"

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

Let me be clear, if you threaten that, what we have, you will be gone.

OK tough guy, more threats, we're not taking anything from you (if you lose anything, it will be because you gave it up or an arbitrator thinks differently of your self-worth). BTW, please fill us in on how we will be gone and whom will remove us.

 

[MILF Hunter]

What's odd is how SWA pilots view the 717 as a "regional" airplane and yet they don't acknowledge that, in terms of seating, the 737-500 is pretty darn close. It's an attempt to weaken the Air Tran pilots' negotiating position - simple as that. How many 735s does SWA operate? Are SWA pilots paid differently to fly a "trip" on a 735 vs. a 733? I doubt it.

Let's be perfectly clear here. SWAPA successfully negotiated to fly 25 737-500s (that's less than 5% of the fleet) at the rates for the larger aircraft. ATN unions successfully negotiated to fly larger aircraft at the rates for their smaller RJ. Nice work guys! Surely you won't mind if we do the negotiating for the entire group...IF and WHEN that ever happens!

 

[Ty Webb]

Blah, blah, blah. Threats . . . Blah, blah, blah, hypocrisy . . . blah, blah, blah sabre-rattling.

So, the newly-issued "talking point" is that the 717 is an RJ, huh? That's great. . . . . Well thought-out.

Hope you get to upgrade on the "RJ" and that your characterization of it as an RJ doesn't result in you getting a lower rate when you fly it.

Sheesh.